The Grapevine
THE GRAPEVINE is a
prolific plant. A single vine can support numerous branches and bear many
grapes. In the Old Testament grapes symbolized Israel
In Genesis 49:22 Jacob compares Joseph to a fruitful vine and blesses
him thus: "Joseph is descended from a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine
planted near springs of water. His branches climb over walls”. We need the Lord
Jesus, but, paradoxically He needs us too. In this analogue, those who follow
Him are the branches, and their function is to bear fruit. The fruitful
branches are true believers who by their living union with God produce fruits
abundantly. The unyielding branches will be chopped off and thrown away.
Unproductive followers--those who turn away after making an initial,
half-hearted commitment suffer a similar fate. Matthew 3.10--Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to
sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good
fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
Jesus says in John 15:5 “ I am the vine, you are the
branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit because apart from me you can do nothing”. How does one abide in Him?
How is this position achieved?
I. By believing
that Jesus is God’s Son. There are numerous
Biblical verses that help us be fruitful for Him. A few examples:
1) John 3:16--this
is by far the most popular Christian verse:
"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so
that everyone who believes in him might not be lost but have eternal life”.
2) John 1:14 – “The
Word became flesh and lived among us. We gazed on his glory, the kind of glory
that belongs to the Father's unique Son, who is full of grace and truth”. The
Gospel writer refers to his unforgettable experience when he saw Christ in His
divine glory on the mountain
of Transfiguration
3) 1John 4:15 ––
“whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in
God”--the author confirms what Jesus told Phillip in John 14:9.
4) Jesus Christ is
not only God’s Son, but God Himself –
Philip 2:6; Colos 1:16; John 20:28 etc bear testimony to this truth.
II. By realizing we
are of the family of God,
1) John 1:12 However, to all who received him, those believing in His name,
He gave authority to become God's children…
2) 1Peter 1:3, 4 Because of His great mercy He has granted us a new birth,
resulting in an immortal hope through the resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah,
from the dead.
3) Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery that leads
you into fear again. Instead, you have received the Spirit of adoption by whom
we cry out, "Abba! Father!"
4) Ephesians 1:4, 5 just as He chose us in the Christ before the creation of
the universe to be holy and blameless in his presence. In love
He predestined us for adoption to
himself through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of His will.
III. By continuing to
believe the good news,
1) 1John 2:24 you must remain faithful to what you have been taught
from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with Father and
Son.
2) 1John 4:15 all who confess Jesus is the Son of God, have God living
in them, and they live in God
3) 2John 1:9 anyone remaining in the teaching of Christ has a
relationship with both the Father and Son
IV. By relating in
love to the community of believers, Christ’s body
John 15:12 “This is My
commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you’’. Jesus’ death on the cross not only reconciled us to God, but also to one another.
A strong fellowship is necessary for
our growth. Through it, we support each other, strengthen, forgive, help, bear the burden, encourage, counsel and confess sins.
John 13:34, 35
Fellowship is a good witness. It proves to the world we are Jesus’ disciples. Jesus’
death on the cross not only reconciled us to God, but also to one another.
V. By
knowing His will and obeying it implicitly, in total submission
1Jn 3:24--Whoever
keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in Him. And by this we know that
he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
1) Genesis--12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your
native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land
that I will show you’. Abraham obeyed with alacrity, without asking any
question. At that moment the seed for the nation of Israel
.
2) 1Kings 19:19--Elijah went and found Elisha son of
Shaphat ploughing a field… Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across
his shoulders and then walked away. At that moment a great prophet, a powerful
witness for God was born.
3) Luke 1:38--Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” This was Mary’s response to the archangel’s message and the Saviour of the world was conceived in her womb.
4) John 15:10--Jesus
told the disciples “When you obey my
commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments
and remain in His love”. At this the disciples’ fear and confusion cleared off
and joy filled them.
Jesus’ was the prime example of obedience,
even though He was God. In John 5:30 He
said “I can do nothing of My own self. As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is
just because I do not seek My own will, but the will of the Father who has
sent Me”. In John 12:49-50 He said
“For I have not spoken of Myself, but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command,
what I should say, and what I should speak.
And I know that His command is life everlasting. Therefore whatever I
speak, even as the Father said to Me, so I speak”. As a human child, He had
submitted to His parents. During His
ministry, He was constantly in touch with His Father to realize His will, and follow
it up and eventually at Gethsemane He accepted His Father’s ‘cup’ and embraced
the cross.
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